The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1887-08-20
HOUSEKEEPING.
Care Of Dash fOfhs.

The care of the household utensils should
be one of the housewife chief considera-
tons, for upon the cleanliness of these
depend IN great measure the health and
comfort of the family. The importance
of this subject cannot be too carefully
considered. There is one article used in
ell houses that cannot be looked after too
closely. Many neat housewives, who pride
themselves upon the cleanliness of their
houses, pay too little attention to the care
OF the dish and sink cloths. These women
are always particular In regard 10 their
dish towels, washing them every day after
wlping the dishes, which is an unnecessary
piece of work, for if the dishes are
washed clean the towels are usually only
damp. and need only be hung out iii the
mir to dry, and will be as sweet and clean
as If they were washed, besides lasting
much longer. They seldom take much
pans with the dish and sink cloths. To
be sure, they are usually washed clean
after each meal, but they are not often
hung out III the air; they are too frequently
hung near or under the sink to dry. These
women would not think of leaving towels
or any other articles but these all punched
up on a nail TO dry, for their common
sense would teach them that the articles
would be ruined by this kind of treat
ment; yet they never think enough about
they are ruined or not. The very things
that of all the housekeeping articles should
be sweet and clean are too often lett TO
take care of themselves.
In an article published in a contempo-
rary few DAYS since on the uses of dis
carded white flannel underwear in the
household, the writer suggests, among
other things, that the housewife cut the
tiannels in small squares, hem and use for
dlsh-cloths. Now, old flannel underwear
is excellent thing in the house, and the
uses to which 1t can be put render 1t some
thing to be desired by all housewives. For
cleaning cloths, sink-cloths, and many
other kinds of cloths there is nothing will
take its place, but as dish cloths it IS q
failure. give the palm to old hannels
for all cloths but dshcloths, but | will
draw the line at dish cloths. just think
of it! Old flannel underwear for dish
clothsl Deliver me from the housekeeper
who uses 1t, for she is usually one of the
kind that believes anything is good enough
for dish cloth.
Anything is not good enough for dish
cloth. Few things that have been used for
anything outside of dishes should he made
into this article. An old table cloth cut
into squares and hemmed, or an old napkin
that has outllved Its use at table service,
makes nice. soft cloths for washing the
glassware and the finer dishes, but for
everyday use, for all kinds of ware, there
Is nothing like a square of nice, fine
crash. 1t will outlast any number of old
tablecloths and napkins, and if properly
cared for is the incest and cIeanest kind of
a cloth. All women know that if good
crash is washed properly that the older it
gets the whiterit grows, and ii not properly
washed the older it is the darker it is sure
10 be. There is no kind of goods will
show the effects of washing so clearly as a
good quality of crash. Cloths washed ont
hurriedly. or simply wrung out of the
water ana hung to dry on a nail beside or
under the sink, no matter what their
quality, will very soon be unfit for use.
The common expression, "As black as a
dish cloth, must certainly apply to cloths
of this kind. There ID no necessity for
the dish cloth being black any more than
the towels. Have two squares of soft
crash, one for each week. Use one for one
week, rinsing 1t out after each meal, hang
ing it IN the air to dry, and when washday
comes let it 90 into the family wash, and
use the other for the next week, treating it
the same as the first. This NAV seem to
be great deal OF care to give to a dish
cloth, but she who practices it will not
soon give It up.
Old crash or old flannel makes good
sink cloths, and should be treated the same
as dish cloths, with the exception of the
family washing, which would hardly be
worth while giving them, as they should
be changed quito frequently, and the rims
ing and airing is all they need while they
last. Above all things, don't keep Them
about the sink while damp, for, according
to the statement of noted physician,
damp, ill-kept dish and sink cloths are as
much to lie feared as forerunners of diph-
liberia, typhoid fever, etc, as is the COM
mon cause usually assigned-imperfec
drainage. Cor. American Cntltirator.